Seat and backseat assembly for seating, in particular office chairs

• US 6,729,688 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2002
• Issued: 05/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stoll Giroflex AG (Scandinavian Business Seating Holding AS)
• Original Assignee: Giroflex-Entwicklungs-AG
• Inventors: Erne, Anton
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): D ADAMO, STEPHEN D
• Application Number:
  US10/239,578
• Publication Number:
  US 20030052520A1
• Time in Patent Office: 588 Days
• Field of Search: 297/300.2, 297/302.1, 297/303.1, 297/320, 297/268.1, 297/297, 297/301.1, 248/580, 248/581, 248/582, 248/583, 248/584, 248/589, 248/591, 248/602, 248/372.1, 248/398, 248/592, 248/594, 248/595
• US Class Current: 297/302.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/023 the parts being horizontally-adjustable seats ; Expandable seats or the like, e.g. seats with horizontally adjustable parts
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03238 by means of peg-and-notch or pawl-and-ratchet mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03255 with a central column, e.g. rocking office chairs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03266 with adjustable elasticity
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03277 with bar or leaf springs

Abstract

The invention relates to seat and backrest arrangements in seat furniture, in particular office chairs, which comprise a seat plate, a seat-plate support and a backrest support and in which the seat plate (1), in the region of its front, knee-side edge (2), is connected moveably to the seat-plate support (3) and, in the region of its rear edge (5), is connected moveably to the backrest support (6), the backrest support (6) being coupled displaceably to the seat-plate support (3). The seat and backrest arrangements according to the invention are characterized in that a spring means (4) for cushioning the seat plate (1) and the backrest support (6) is arranged in the region of the front, knee-side edge (2) of the seat plate (1)—between the seat plate (1) and seat-plate support (3).

Claims

1. Seat and backrest arrangement for seat furniture, in particular office chairs, which comprises:

a seat plate, a seat-plate support and a backrest support and in which the seat-plate (1), in a region of its front, knee-side edge (2), is connected moveably to the seat-plate support (3) and, in a region of its rear edge (5), is connected moveably to the backrest support (6) for pivotal movement, the backrest support (6) is coupled displaceably to the seat-plate support (3) for pivotal movement about a floating linearly displaceable pivot axis, and a spring means (4) for cushioning the seat plate (1) and the backrest support (6) is arranged in the region of the front, knee-side edge (2) of the seat plate (1), between the seat plate (1) and seat-plate support (3) to movably connect the seat plate to the seat-plate support.

2. Seat and backrest arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the spring means (4) is a U-shaped leaf spring.

3. Seat furniture, in particular office chairs, wherein the said furniture includes a seat and backrest arrangement according to claim 1.

4. Seat and backrest arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the seat plate (1) is connected to the backrest support (6) via a first pivot joint (7).

5. Seat and backrest arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the first pivot joint (7) between the seat plate (1) and backrest support (6) is disposed in a structure (29) which is arranged for linear displacement and lockably in or on the backrest support (6).

6. Seat and backrest arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the seat plate (1) is further connected to the seat-plate support (3) via a pivot joint (26) disposed adjacent the spring means.

7. Seat and backrest arrangement according to claim 6, wherein an adjusting means (27) is arranged on the seat-plate support (3) and/or on the seat plate (1) and can be used to change the spring force of the spring means (4).

8. Seat and backrest arrangement according to claim 1, further including a blocking mechanism for blocking pivotal movement of the seat-plate and backrest-support and spring arrangement.

9. Seat and backrest arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the blocking mechanism contains a tongue (12) which can be brought into engagement with a grid element (13).

10. Seat and backrest arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the tongue (12) is arranged displaceably on the seat plate (1) or on the seat-plate support (3), and the grid element (13) is arranged, respectively on the seat-plate support (3) or on the seat plate (1).

11. Seat and backrest arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the blocking mechanism contains a spring element (20) with which the tongue (12) can be held in engagement with the grid element (13).

12. Seat and backrest arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the blocking mechanism also contains a locking means (25) with which the tongue (12) can be stopped from engaging in the grid element (13).